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Coalition to spearhead long-term recovery
Bremer County Recovery Coalition’s volunteers to assist with donation distributions, plan for future catastrophes
By Anelia K. Dimitrova
7/29/2008 12:00:00 AM
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A coalition of faith-based organizations and nonprofits plans to fill a void in the county’s disaster recovery.
Dubbed the Bremer County Recovery Coalition (BCRC), the organization boasts a corps of volunteers, churches and community members who stepped up to the plate in the aftermath of May’s EF-5 tornado and June’s record flood.
“It became apparent that a formal organization is needed to assist with long-term recovery,” Bremer County Emergency Coordinator Kip Ladage told the board of supervisors Monday morning.
Modeled after the Buchanan County Recovery Coalition and recommended by FEMA, the new entity will act as a clearinghouse for addressing the long-term needs of disaster-stricken county residents.
It will be guided by a five-member executive committee and chaired by Wartburg’s Dan Kittle, director for the Center for Community Engagement. The W-SR United Way will provide the financial infrastructure for the group.
Kittle presented the coalition’s goals to the City Council Monday night.
The group plans to capitalize on the knowledge its volunteers gathered in the door-to-door assessment of the emotional, financial, cleanup, demolition and housing needs.
Kittle said the group’s recognition is urgent, as it will enable the community to tap into an otherwise inaccessible pool of labor, material and fund resources.
“Many outside agencies have resources, but cannot direct them to an impacted area unless a formal organization exists,” said Ladage. “The coalition is not in place to keep the wolf from the door, but to take care of the long-term, disaster-related needs.”
BCRC will not duplicate or interfere with existing entities or any public safety organization.
“The right people are at the table, it’s just a matter of formalizing it,” he added. “In simplest terms, we will be able to address the existing needs of several impacted communities from this disaster while planning ahead for the next catastrophic event.”
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